Here’s a question.

I own a ’93 Miata, now at 73K miles.  This past weekend, I replaced the
rear brake pads.  The front pads — the one that were on the car when I
drove away from the showroom — remain on the car because they have
about 1/3 of wear left.  I checked both the front and rear pads at 45K
miles and each had at least 2/3 of wear left.  I know, because I already
bought replacement pads and could compare old and new side-by-side.

If I were so inclined, the rear pads could have stayed on the car
another six months.  I find it remarkable that I can drive 73,000 miles
without having to replace my car.  Granted, most of my driving is an
interstate commute to work, 26 miles each way, but still…

Does anyone find this kind of performance typical?  How ’bout the clutch
and other long-term consummables?  I don’t want to buy a clutch at 100K
and pull the transmission to find that a pristine clutch remains.

Thanks.  Replies to my e-mail (Ha…@erols.com) would be appreciated
over replies to the group.  While I love my car, I don’t browse by the
Miata newsgroup too often.

’99 Twilight Blue

Does anyone know how to remove the rear-view mirror? There are no screws,
bolts, clips, etc.

Scot Jebens
sc…@kdi.com

I brought mine in at 500 and then 2000 to change the engine oil.  When you
drop yours off, be sure to insist on an OEM filter and provide them with a
new oil drain plug washer if you’re not going to the dealer!  Without using
the OEM filter on my first change, I noticed a prolonged period of tapping
until the oil got back to the top of the engine.  Since then I’ve stocked up
on a supply of oil filters and oil plug washers that I will provide with
every oil change.

Something else you might want to do is go to an alignment shop and check the
alignment.  I didn’t notice any problem, but I had been reading a lot of
posts/emails that noted the alignments were off straight from the factory.
When I brought it in . . . sure enough, it was off.

The cost was minor and worth every penny in preventing wear and tear on the
tires.  I suppose I could have returned to the dealer to fix it under
warranty, but I trust my local merchant more so I don’t mind sending him the
business.

Otherwise, I cant help you on the differential oil question.  I’ll be
looking to read some of the answers you get back on that subject.

Until then, I gotta go an put some more miles on the car . . . so I can
change the oil again at 5K!  :-)

Take care….

–
Garth Grugal
[Do Not use your reply button.]
[My address is amended in an]
[attempt to thwart the Spammers.]
[Please use:]
[ggrugal<at>email<dot>msn<dot>com]

Michael N. Rubino wrote in message

<791CC1D605572891.93B4DD15F8AE5AD5.15D150915F432…@library-proxy.airnews.ne
t>…

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

>Hi all,

>It’s time to biring my Miata in for it’s 500mi service.  An engine oil
>change is definate but I was wondering if I should be doing anything
>else.  Does it make sense to change the manual transmission or rear
>differential oils?

>TIA,
>- Mike

>Michael N. Rubino
>Emerald ’99 w/ Leather

I have a question.  I recently bought a 1995 miata with 33,000 miles on
it.  This is my first miata, so I don’t know how a new one runs.  My
question is…..say you have the air conditioner on.  When you come to a
stop for a few minutes (say at a light or in line at a fast food place)
does the air conditioner kick off?  Mine does.  It keeps blowing air,
but not cold air.  You can even hear the compressor kick off.  And when
I take off, it will go back on and start blowing cold air again.  Is
this normal?  I really don’t like this because say in the middle of
summer I’m stuck in traffic.  I’ll be sitting there for a long time and
I won’t be able to get cold air from my air conditioner.  Is this
something I should get checked?
    Thanks in advance!
    David

Just wondering if anyone had to make a "hard" choice.  I mean can’t
afford both.

-b

I’ve ordered a new soft top for my 94 M-edition from Moss Motors…Glass rear
window and all.  Sean at Moss Motors says that it’s alot like the tops found
on BMW’s and Jag’s…anyone have any experience with this fabric top as a
replacement for the stock vinyl top?
Bob,
94 M-edition

Tony,

I couldn’t remember your e-mail address so I thought I’d post my update to the ng.

I went back to the tire dealer yesterday but to a different location.  They
spun the wheels on the balancing machine and they were totally out of balance.

Background:  when balancing a tire, they should be balanced statically and
dynamically.  For a proper balance (dynamic and static), weights must be added
on both the inside AND outside of the rim.  The initial balancing had weights
only on the inside of the rim (to improve the look of the rims) so the dynamic
balancing hadn’t been performed.

The ride is much smoother now but not perfect.  The 65mph shimmy is most
noticable from 63 to 68mph but I can run most of it out by 70mph.  The tires
also get smoother when they come up to operating temperature.

I hope you get your problem resolved.  Remember to check for both types of balancing.

David
’90 White

How much should I pay for a used Hard Top that would need to be
repainted?  What is the cost of painting a Hard Top?

Hi,

        I am thinking of buying a Miata myself. Are there many automatics
available? I am not much of a manual transmission fan. If any one owns a
Miata automatic, how is the performance? How is it for long hours on the
interstate highways?

Would appreciate some info,

Kary.

I just purchased a 1990 Red B-package (Yaah me!) with a hardtop.
I really love the car, even though I have only had a few hours drive
time since purchase this morning!  Anyway, here is my question:

Is is possible to add a defroster to a defroster-less hardtop?